tery, and of the Presbytery on the Patron, and of the inefficiency of any species of eating in procuring an encrease of appetites. Then, too, the scarcely less eloquent and erudite Burns of Paisley may crown the work with the authority of Scripture" and the "statutes of the Church." And the candid and amiable Mr Smyth may acknowledge, without any risk of injury to the Principal's cause, his disposition to support Dr MacFarlane's presentation, together with those conscientious scruples, which, put in the opposite balance, serve to outweigh this favourable disposition. These, I say, together with the Taylors, and Lesslies, and Gibbs, and Lockharts, and Rankins, of the other side, may, on such an emergency, all unite, in one harmonious effort, in carrying into effect this most desirable object.

I have already stated, that there are two things, after the dismissal of Principal MacFarlane's case, which will probably occupy the attention of, and occasion some discussion in, the next Assembly. To leave the law and the practice in a state of inconsistency with each other, as they seem hitherto to have been, is manifestly inexpedient; and accordingly the debate will not unlikely turn upon the alternative of a partial, or of a total and unlimited abolition, in future, of all clerical pluralities whatever. Against a partial abolition it may be plausibly urged, that, so long as one single exception is made, the spirit of the Constitution has not been carried into full operation. And against an unlimited abolition, it may likewise be stated, on the other hand, that, in some instances, the Professorships are so poor, that with out the addition of a church benefice, or some such accession of income, no individual properly qualified will be found to undertake the duties and the responsibility of the office. To this, however, it may be answered, Let Government be applied to, and the same liberal and enlightened policy, which has placed all the incumbents of the Scottish Church upon a comparatively independent establishment, will not, assuredly, hesitate in doing as much by our national and venerable Universities.

My own decided opinion is, that

a spirit of reform has been excited, which will not be repressed,—a spark has been struck out by collision, which may not be extinguished : "Dumus ardet, nec tamen consumitur ;" and wo be unto him who shall endeavour to extinguish the flame! I remember a device upon a Lu theran Bible, which is, in some degree, figurative of the sentiment I wish to convey. A candle, newly lighted, is placed upon a table, at which the Devil, the Pope, and his Cardinals, are seated, each blowing with all his might in order to extinguish it; but, from the oblique and indirect manner in which their breath is emitted, it is evident that it falls reciprocally upon the blowers themselves rather than upon the luminated object of their antipathy. Over the whole device, a label is floated

thus:

"The candle," then, which our forefathers, in spite of the Devil, the Pope, and the Cardinals, contrived, at the expence of burning their fingers, and even of singeing their beards, to light, and which has been transmitted to us, as "a lamp to our feet and a light to our path!"—that candle let us preserve, unextinguished, from age to age. And if, occasionally, it may require a little trimming, let us do the thing gracefully, and without throwing the snuff in any body's eyes. Old and established law,-the spirit and character of our national church,-together with that expediency which originates in an undivided application of time, talents, and acquirements, to the faithful discharge of the most sacred and important duties which were ever devolved upon man,-all these reasons seem to concur in demanding of our Church an immediate and unreserved abolition of all pluralities whatever. By following out the law of residence, and by insisting upon every parish, according to the Act of Parliament, being possessed

At a period too, when the State has set so honourable and so praiseworthy an example of every species of retrenchment, where offices purely, or nearly sinecure, were concerned, at a time when the number of expectants for Church-preferment is increased beyond all former precedent, -and at a crisis when licentiousness and immorality, the natural consequence of peace, and of a reduction of our military and naval establishments, in particular, are felt to be on the increase, it becomes the imperious duty of the Church of Scotland to bring, into full and unequivocal agency, all her wisdom, and all her zeal, and all her efficiency, not to diminish, by a single unit or degree, that amount of influence and exertion of which she is possessed, and which she is now so loudly called upon to put forth. This is not, in fact, a party measure, and God forbid that it should ever become so! It will be taken up, it is to be hoped, and triumphantly carried into execution, by that independent and intermediate body of men*, who scorn to belong to any party, and who think it neither inconsistent with their duty nor their character to occupy either sides of the House, as their own consciences or convenience may dictate. Would to God, Sir, that, in an Assembly convened together for the purpose of providing for the spiritual good and edification of a whole nation-in an Assembly which meets, deliberates, and dissolves under the most solemn and impressive appeals to Almighty God,-that, in a meeting, I say, of this character, more moderation and less party-spi

tas.

rit prevailed,-that questions which come before it were uniformly decided, not according to the previous arrangements of orators, however distinguished, or of leaders, however far-sighted and sound in their political creeds-but, that Ministers of the Church of Scotland, under a recollection of her past celebrity, and in reference to her future prosperity, uniformly and sternly.voted in consistency with their own indi vidual apprehension of the merits of the case before them! I am far, Sir, even from insinuating improper motives or conduct in the General Assembly, or in any party or individual thereof; but the trammels of habit are strong; and men, unaccustomed to think, in matters of legislation, for themselves, are, from mere indolence, as well as from a confidence in others, apt to give up all self-management. My wish and prayer is, that " every member may do his duty," and then pluralities shall soon become only a matter of historical record.

Song-To Mary.

FRATER.

AND canst thou then believe that I
Could e'er prove false to thee, Mary?
Stars may desert the midnight sky,

But by the glance of that soft eye,
And birds the shady tree, Mary ;
And by that gentle bòsom's sigh,

Thou'lt ne'er know change in me, Mary!

Oh! some may seek for wealth and pow'r,
And some for fickle fame, Mary;
But I'd resign for one short hour-

And he who likes may blame, Mary-
For one short hour in yonder bower,
A monarch's throne, a kingdom's dower,
Or hero's glorious name, Mary.
Soft cradled in thy fond embrace,

Does not my soul beat high, Mary ? Show me on earth a fitter place

For raptur'd bliss to lie, Mary ;— Be't mine, when clos'd my mortal race, To gaze on every nameless grace, To match the Eden of thy face,

And, heav'n before me, die, Mary!

In looking at the present state of Europe, degraded as it is under the thraldom of the Holy Alliance, there is little to cheer or to comfort. We see the principle of force completely triumphant, freedom every where met by the sword, and its friends persecuted, as if they were the enemies, and not the friends of the human race. Nor have they any asylum to which they can fly from their oppressors, except Great Britain or the United States; so that Continental Europe somewhat resembles the Roman Empire, under some of its ancient tyrants, when it was described by the historian as a large prison, in which there was no escape from the imperial frown. Naples, as we saw, was the scene of a short struggle for liberty. But its fall was nothing more than what was to be expected, before the powerful attack of Austria. It was in the poor and contemptible figure made by Spain that the friends of freedom were disappointed. A highly defensible country, with a numerous population, and a popular Government, fell back without a struggle, under the dominion of priests and monks, from whose yoke it had been emancipated, and now lies like a log on the water, helpless and degraded, a victim in the toils of despotism, there to remain until a new and brighter era dawn upon Europe.

We turn, then, from those boasted regions of improvement, where Freedom is forced to hide her diminished head, to the New World, where a new and interesting scene of improvement begins to open. There we see the cause of freedom flourishing and making progress. The brave and patriotic inhabitants, after a severe struggle, have nearly triumphed over the mercenary hordes that were sent out to reduce them under the yoke of Old Spain. In Colombia, a vast country, which includes the kingdom of New Granada, the Caraccas, and Quito, they have just been expelled from Porto Cabello, their last stronghold; so that this vast country, which has long been, de facto, independent, and has exercised all the powers of sovereignty, is now at last freed from

VOL. XIV.

civil war, and will have full leisure to complete all those great improvements which were begun even under the pressure of severe domestic difficulties. We understand that the Congress of Colombia, which has held regular sittings, during all the late struggle, has already carried into effect many important reforms. Schools have been every where established-the liberty of the press has been secured-newspapers have been multiplied-and every expedient for disseminating knowledge has been eagerly adopted. In all the different parts of this vast continent, Representative Governments have been established; and the leading men, no doubt, duly consider, that, to give effect to those free and popular institutions, it is necessary to have an improved people, and they are therefore extremely anxious to train the inhabitants to the new duties which they are now called upon to practise.

But the advantages of all these improvements will redound, not merely to the countries themselves, but to the world at large. Growing in resources both moral and physical, in wealth, population, and industry, those countries will afford a great and beneficial outlet to the commerce and manufactures of Europe. To Britain, more especially, their intercourse will be extremely beneficial. In the present state of our industry, with such an overflowing capital, with such skill in every branch of ingenious industry, and with such amazing powers of machinery, all that we want is a sufficient market for those productions which we cannot use at home; and this is precisely what a free trade to South America will give

us.

In most of these countries, industry has made but little progress; there may be coarse manufactures of cotton, of wool, and of various other necessary articles; but the traders of those comparatively infant countries could not, for a moment, withstand the competition of British industry and skill. There is great scope here, therefore, for an extension of our commerce, not only to our own great benefit, but fully as much to the benefit of those South American coun

B

tries, which are deficient in capital and industry, but abound in rude produce, namely, the precious metals, and all sorts of tropical produce, such as sugar, cocoa, coffee, indigo, cotton, &c. These being given in return for the cheap goods of Britain, the exchange would of course be mutually advantageous. When the British goods are cheap, that is, in other words, to say, that the South American produce is dear. This trade, then, while it afforded a market to the British trader for his superfluous goods, would benefit South America by the high price which its produce would obtain, and would thus give a new stimulus to her advancing industry.

As this country is at present the subject of so much discussion,-as it is so very interesting in every view, whether we consider its physical structure, its vast ranges of mountains, its prodigious rivers, and the singular disposition of its population; or whether we consider the political changes of which it has been the scene, and as it is, besides, but little known, we have thrown together some details respecting its population, productions, trade, the manners of its inhabitants, &c., which, as they lie scattered in various publications, it may be useful to bring together, that, when South America is mentioned, we may know what it is that we are speaking about; and that, in place of some vague and obscure notion of a vast and unexplored country, ideas, precise and intelligible, may be presented to our minds..

This extensive Continent is divided, 1st, Into the Viceroyalty of New Granada; 2d, Into that of Buenos Ayres; 3d, Peru; 4th, Chili; 5th, The Caraccas. In North America, we have the Kingdom of Mexico.

New Granada is the most northern division of South America, and, with the addition of the Government of Caraccas, constitutes the new Republic of Colombia. To the north, it has the Carribbean Sea; to the west, the Pacific Ocean; on the east, the Caraccas; and, on the south, Peru. It includes the kingdom of Quito, and extends from lat. 3° 30′ S., to 12° N., being 930 miles in length, and 210 in breadth. Its population amounts

to 1,800,000. The country is diversified in its aspect, the coast along the Carribbean Sea, and the Pacific Ocean, being level, and the ground rising gradually to the snowy heights of the Andes. The great ridge of those mountains, it is well known, runs through America in a direction north and south, and rises to its height at the distance of from 200 to 300 miles from the Pacific Ocean, the intervening country being a continued descent to the sea. Here the firs: ridge of the Andes commences, and there are two ridges to the eastward: these mountains, when they pass through New Granada, dividing into three parallel chains, with vallies intervening. These high vallies, embosomed amid the snowy Andes, possess an elevation which gives them, even under the Equator, a mild and delightful climate, and an everblooming vegetation. They are accordingly the seats of cultivation, and contain many flourishing towns and villages. There are also several considerable towns on the plains on the sea-coast. In two of the vallies which lie between the parallel ridges of the Andes, the two great rivers Cauca and Magdalena take their rise. The Cauca joins the latter, which is an immense stream, having a course of 900 miles, and falling into the Carribbean Sea. It is on these rivers that the Congress of Colombia are about to establish steam-boats. The chief towns are,

Carthagena, on the Carribbean Sea, the chief place of the province of Carthagena, situated on a sandy peninsula, joined to the continent by two artificial necks of land. The bay of Carthagena is one of the most capacious and safe on the whole coast, being completely land-locked, and perfectly smooth. It is estimated to contain 25,000 inhabitants, and is the port through which goods find their way to Santa Fé de Bogota, Popayan, and Quito.

Mompox, situated in lat. 9° 19′ N. lon. 74° 11' W., on the great river Magdalena, 110 miles south-southeast of Carthagena. It is a small place.

Tolu, a small sea-port on the Spanish Main, in lat. 9° 32′ N.; lon. 75° 30′ W.; 50 miles south of Carthagena.

Barancas, a small sea-port near the estuary of the great river Magdalena, 25 miles from Carthagena.

Santa Martha, the chief town of the province of Santa Martha, 100 miles north-east of Carthagena, situated in lat. 11° 19' N. lon. 74° 4' W. Merida, situated in a valley surrounded with lofty mountains, containing 11,000 inhabitants. Lat. 8° 10 N. lon. 73° 45′ W.

Pampeluna, 170 miles north-east of Santa Fé de Bogota.

These towns are chiefly in the northern provinces of New Granada. When we ascend the Andes, and penetrate into the vallies, we have,

Santa Fé de Bogota, containing 40,000 inhabitants, and situated on a spacious and luxuriant plain, on the eastern ridge of the Andes. It is only four degrees north from the Equator; but being elevated 8694 feet, or a bout a mile and three-quarters above the level of the sea, the climate is temperate, and even cold. Its plains are covered with luxuriant crops of wheat, and all the fruits of Europe; while, at a little distance in the lower vallies, is seen all the brilliant vegetation, and the finest fruits of the tropical regions.

Popayan, 195 miles south-southwest from Santa Fé, containing 25,000 inhabitants, and elevated 5905 feet above the level of the sea. There are many other smaller towns and villages in its district. The great river Cauca is about a league from Popayan, and, from the sudden melting of the snows in the Andes, is subject to the most dreadful inundations. To the south is the kingdom of Quito, stretching 600 miles along the Pacific Ocean, while it is 1800 miles in breadth. It contains Quito, the capital, on the eastern slope of the western branch of the Equatorial Andes, 35 leagues distant from the Pacific Ocean. It is immediately under the Equator; but, being 9510 feet above the level of the sea, it enjoys a mild temperature. It contains 70,000 inhabitants. Quito rests on the volcanic mountain of Pinchincha for its basis, and is surrounded with all the highest peaks of the Andes, many of them volcanic, and still burning: that of Cotopaxi, 18,980 feet, or about 34 miles, above the level of the sea, is only 36 miles

distant. This is the most formidable volcano of the Andes, and the inhabitants of Quito have frequently been alarmed by its eruptions, the noise of which is so loud, that it has been heard at Guayaquil, on the coast, 150 miles distant. The climate at Quito, though temperate, is liable, from the vicinity of the mountains, to the most dreadful torrents of rain. The whole morning, and, generally, till two in the afternoon, the weather is extremely delightful. A bright sun, with a serene and clear sky, are commonly seen but afterwards the vapours begin to thicken, the whole atmosphere is filled with thick clouds, which bring on such shocking tempests of thunder and lightning, that all the neighbouring mountains tremble, and the city too often feels their dreadful effects. Lastly, the clouds discharge themselves in such impetuous torrents of rain, that, in a very short time, the streets appear like rivers, and the squares, though situated on a slope, like lakes. This dreadful scene generally continues till near sun-set, when the weather clears up, and Nature again appears as beautiful as in the morning: sometimes, indeed, the rains continue all night, and they have been known to last three or four days successively: and, on the contrary, three or four days of fine weather sometimes succeed one another.

Fifty miles south of Quito is the town of Lacatunga, with 12,000 inhabitants; farther south is Rio Bamba, almost ruined, in 1698 and 1746, by the eruptions of the volcano of Cotapaxi; utterly destroyed, in 1797, by an earthquake, when the peak of a mountain falling on the plain, not a vestige of the town remained, and of 9000 inhabitants, only 100 survived. In the same convulsion, about 30,000 or 40,000 Indians are supposed to have perished in the neighbouring districts. The town has been since rebuilt, and contains 20,000 inhabitants. Hambato, situated in an extensive plain, has 6000. All these towns are situated on the heights of the Andes, in the interior, from 150 to 300 miles from the Pacific Ocean. Near the coast of Quito, 150 miles southwest of that city, we have the important sea-port of Guayaquil, which